Reviews

Jacques Selosse Initial

At Restaurant After Seven, Backstage Hotel, Zermatt, Switzerland.

Domaine Darviot-Perrin Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières

I've written a decent amount on this wine already, but every time I pop the cork, 1.) I regret it, because I know Darviot-Perrin's Perrieres is near-impossible to find in the states, especially this…

François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Monts Mains

A chameleon of sorts, and not one I would have blindly pegged as Chablis, this Raveneau carries signature exquisite balance and breadth, but certainly plays in the luxuriant side of the sandbox. You…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

@ Mourad in SF. This revisit on the 2018 Clos was very good and went well with every dish, including basteeya and braised beef cheeks. I'll say in short that this particular bottle was indicative of…

Three Sticks Chardonnay Alana

If you're a fat pufferfish of a kid who likes to cram butter-oiled popcorn in your face while sucking a jumbo 7-Up through your Red Vines straw, then you will likely find the Alana to be a bit too…

Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Petit Chablis

Solid and notably balanced. Everything in the right place, if just a bit less exciting than last year. I'm drinking mine in the nearer term.

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles

A powerful showing, with all the components playing tug 'o war with each other. Seamlessness isn't where it needs to be yet, which is no surprise given its youth. With 5+ years of sleep, I suspect…

Robert Moncuit Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Chetillons

Comes off as a young pup, but still accessible enough that pleasure can be had now with a bit of air. There's a dash of copper and preserved lemons on the back end that taunt you into thinkng it is…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

This bottle was a bit of a shy guy for most of consumption. Decanting helped unearth some of the succulent peach and lemon confit flavors that added depth and dimension. 2018 is certainly a bit of a…

Domaine Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Séchets

In a great spot right now for my palate, especially after a bit of air to stretch its legs. Fabulous acidity and vibrancy, especially for its class and QPR. Zingy lemon citrus backed by an intense…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vieilles Vignes

Imma tell ya what. I could put this $30 Buck Chuck in a blind with a gaggle of Grand Cru Chablis and this would fo-sho go toe-to-toe with Les Clos.

Armand Heitz Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières

Jimmy Cricket on a crate of craziness this is a solid wine. Meursault is often good-not-great for me, mostly because of the fullness that can round-out the execution and make for a filled but often…

Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

Lime and apple form a pinky-swear bond with lemon, saline, and river rock flavors to shape a Bougros that is along familiar lines for this producer across most recent vintages. The Bougros always has…

Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet

For a village level, this is of course very nice indeed. I will say that I didn't necessarily find anything uniquely compelling that made it stand out over other P-Ms that I've enjoyed in recent…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

Every time I pop the cork on this wine, I fall in love with it all over again. It is totally my jam and one of the best representations of Chardonnay in California out there. It is (unfortunately)…

Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère

At Cyrus Restaurant, Geyserville.

Doyard Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Clos de l'Abbaye

Of the 2015, I previously wrote, "Such a young pup, and a bit severe at first." This is equally true of this 2016 version, with a linear and somewhat angular delivery on the initial pop of the cork.…

Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

Allow me to start out a little backwards here in terms of my comments (what else is new?...right?!). I know it's sometimes frowned upon to talk about pricing and QPR and folks just wanna know if the…

Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

Proper, clean, pure, correct, and very well behaved, this is a flawless Chablis that has one main flaw... it lacks personality. The only fault to be had here is that I have trouble distinguishing…

Hubert Lamy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes Blanc

With a markedly penetrating and borderline-shrill entry, the teeth clattering acidity subsides enough to allow vibrant and pure yellow citrus flavors to burst on the palate with verve and slaphappy…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles

Even better than last year, with more punch and zesty piquancy. Super fresh, with a citrusy finish that elongates the tail with snappy energy and lift. Lemon-lime flavors jumping around the mouth. A…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent

Bordering on Grand Cru quality here. Notable concentration and intensity. Succulent yellow citrus, sea salt, lime zest, and quince. Solid persistence. Drink now for the freshness and zing or hold for…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Chaillots Gillis

In a great spot right now. Fresh and succulent. This can age and develop tertiary flavors of course, but why wait?!

Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

Similar to last year's note. Very good QPR @$60-$70. Carries a really nice verve and citrus juice pop of energy. Medium bodied weight-wise, but has an extra tick of intensity that gives the finish an…

Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

This is what I want and expect when I open a young bottle of a top Fevre. Vibrant and spunky, with green and yellow citrus fruit, crunchy green and yellow apple, unripe pear, and wet travertine…